Colorimetric radiation dosimetry

Abstract

A dosimetry device includes a first chamber formed on a substrate with a first decomposable barrier sensitive to radiation and a first chemical component. A second chamber is formed on the substrate in proximity of the first chamber and includes a second decomposable barrier sensitive to radiation and a second chemical component. Upon a radiation event, decomposition of the first and second barriers of the first and second chambers permits a mixing of the first and second chemical components to cause a visible change of the dosimetry device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A dosimetry device, comprising:
 a first chamber, including:
 a first decomposable barrier sensitive to radiation; and 
 a first chemical component; and 
 
 a second chamber, including:
 a second decomposable barrier sensitive to radiation; and 
 a second chemical component; 
 
 wherein, upon a radiation event, decomposition of the first and second barriers of the first and second chambers permits a mixing of the first and second chemical components to cause a visible change of the dosimetry device. 
 
     
     
       2. The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second chemical components react to provide a color change. 
     
     
       3. The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second chemical components are selected from a group consisting of: dye, a powder and a solution with particles suspended therein. 
     
     
       4. The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second chambers are included in a capsule. 
     
     
       5. The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the capsule includes a solvent for mixing the first and second chemical components. 
     
     
       6. The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second chambers include a pipe or channel. 
     
     
       7. The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second chambers include a plurality of cells or microcapsules. 
     
     
       8. The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second chambers include multidimensional shapes. 
     
     
       9. A dosimetry device, comprising:
 at least one chamber, said chamber including around said chamber a decomposable barrier sensitive to radiation, wherein, upon a radiation event, decomposition of the decomposable barrier causes a visible change of the dosimetry device to indicate an amount of radiation exposure. 
 
     
     
       10. The dosimetry device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the decomposable barrier is configured to decompose by cracking and an amount of cracking is indicative of the amount of radiation exposure. 
     
     
       11. The dosimetry device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein:
 the at least one chamber comprises a first chamber which includes at least one chemical component; and 
 an external chemical component is disposed outside of the chamber, wherein, upon a radiation event, decomposition of the decomposable barrier of the first chamber permits a mixing of the at least one chemical component and the external chemical component to cause visible changes of the dosimetry device. 
 
     
     
       12. The dosimetry device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the first chamber includes a first chemical component and a second chemical component which are configured to mix with the external chemical component when the decomposable barrier decomposes upon a radiation event. 
     
     
       13. The dosimetry device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein:
 the dosimetry device includes a plurality of chambers; 
 the plurality of chambers having decomposable barriers that are configured to decompose from different amounts of radiation exposure. 
 
     
     
       14. A method for forming a dosimetry device, comprising:
 forming at least one chamber which includes a decomposable barrier material sensitive to radiation; 
 filling the barrier material with at least one chemical component; 
 wherein, upon a radiation event, decomposition of the decomposable barrier material causes a visible change of the dosimetry device to indicate an amount of radiation exposure. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one chamber comprises a first chamber and a second chamber and the at least one chemical component comprises a first chemical component and a second chemical component, further comprising the steps of:
 filling the barrier material on the first chamber with a first chemical component; and 
 filling the barrier material on the second chamber with a second chemical component such that, upon the radiation event, the barrier material decomposes to permit mixing of the first and second chemical components to cause a visible change of the dosimetry device. 
 
     
     
       16. The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein forming the at least one chamber includes:
 writing an ink filament on the substrate; 
 depositing the barrier material on the ink filament; and 
 liquefying and removing the ink filament to form the chamber. 
 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising affixing the dosimetry device to an object to measure radiation exposure. 
     
     
       18. The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the decomposable barrier material is configured to decompose by cracking and an amount of cracking is indicative of the amount of radiation exposure. 
     
     
       19. The method as recited in  claim 14 , comprising the further steps of:
 depositing an external chemical component disposed outside of the at least one chamber, wherein, upon the radiation event, decomposition of the decomposable barrier material permits a mixing of the at least one chemical component and the external chemical component to cause visible changes indicative of the amount of radiation exposure. 
 
     
     
       20. The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein a plurality of chambers is formed including a first chamber and a second chamber each having the decomposable barrier material that is respectively configured to decompose from exposure to a different amount of radiation.